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MPP Thompson visits South Huron council

SOUTH HURON – “I’ve been very passionate about making sure small towns and rural Ontario have a voice.”

That was Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson’s message to South Huron council Feb. 5 when she visited the council chambers for an update.

Thompson, recently named chair of the Ontario PC caucus, expressed her appreciation to the members of council for the work they do representing their municipality.

“I can’t say enough of the importance of people being proud of where they call home,” the Huron-Bruce MPP said.

Thompson said 2017 was a historic year for Ontario, marking 150 years of Confederation. She noted last year also represented the 100th anniversary of Canadian women receiving the right to vote, although she pointed out it was decades before indigenous and Metis women also received that right.

To celebrate those achievements, Thompson held events in Exeter and Kincardine last year honouring remarkable women in Huron and Bruce counties.

But while there was a spirit of celebration about women receiving the right to vote, there’s a long way to go before there is equal representation among the sexes on municipal councils – Thompson pointed out that of the 14 municipalities in Huron-Bruce, only two have female mayors, those being South Huron’s Maureen Cole and Anne Eadie of Kincardine.

“I have a wonderful opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to women who make a difference in this riding,” Thompson said.

She also spoke of her annual Remarkable Citizens evening held recently in Teeswater, during which 40 people were recognized, including South Huron residents Pat O’Rourke and Ada Dinney.

“Don’t stop what you’re doing,” she said, describing the area as “amazing,” and one in which small businesses can thrive.

Regarding South Huron’s plans to upgrade its recreation facilities, Thompson said, “We stand with you.” She said municipalities need infrastructure such as recreation to attract residents. Thompson said municipalities in Ontario “have carried a huge load” with provincial downloading, and her party wants to invest in bricks and mortar projects to assist communities with their recreation facilities.

Picking up on that theme, Coun. Wayne DeLuca said rural Ontario can’t survive without partnerships and he asked Thompson to visit council annually. He suggested council and Thompson meet in the future in a roundtable format so council can put forth its concerns and help move the community ahead.

Thompson agreed with DeLuca’s suggestion and said it’s important to keep the lines of communication open.